Yemisi Izuora
The Bank of Industry (BOI) in collaboration with financial institutions and development partners in Africa has concluded plans to inject N1trillion into the local economy.
The Managing Director of BOI, Mr. Olukayode Pitan who made the disclosure during the inauguration of the governing board of the bank said the synergy was to further deepen the bank’s involvement in the development of the economy as well as providing necessary impetus in revitalising key sectors that have been stressed by the global economic downslide.
The intervention, he posited, was the resolve of the new management to be abreast of advancing the economy in furtherance of keeping the bank’s mandate of providing financial assistance for the establishment of large, medium and small projects as well as the expansion, diversification and modernisation of existing enterprises; and rehabilitation of existing ones.
The BOI, he said, would invest the fund in infrastructural development, focus more on small and medium enterprises without neglecting large scale businesses and assist in remedial activities such as building road network to attract investors who are interested in working with the Nigerian government.
He specifically mentioned the interest of the bank in investing in the Calabar Free Trade Zone, Kano Free Trade Zone, Nnewi Free Trade Zone and the Akwa Ibo Deep Port.
The board chairman, Mr.Aliyu Alrahman Dikko said the board would ensure a sustainable future of the bank by benchmarking international best practices qualities.
He promised that the board would uphold the interest of beneficiaries of the bank while it will create opportunities for more entrepreneurs to benefit from the bank and consequently contribute their quota to national development.
The chairman said board members will justify their appointments as a call to national service by being transparent in performing their oversight duties.
“The Bank’s reputation and success are built upon a foundation of integrity- a commitment to act within the highest ethical standards and to conduct its business honestly and transparently”, he stated.
Inaugurating the board, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, said BOI needed to raise its capital base to further assist SMEs.
Enelamah stressed that the bank had actually earned the trust of key agencies and institutions of government and has made a remarkable impact in providing financial facilities to the cement, sugar and garment/ textile industries.
The minister said the Central BanK of Nigeria had been working with the BOI to boost loan accessibility by entrepreneurs and industrialists in the country,
“The bank has effectively collaborated with the ministry in the area of project financing and that the ministry is delighted in working with the Bank and other development institutions such as the Industrial Trust Fund (ITF), Small and Medium Scale Development Agency (SMEDAN), and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC),” he said.